US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, February 28, 2025. Photo: SAUL LOEB
By ABC
US President Donald Trump has rebuked the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an extraordinary Oval Office clash, telling him he has "no cards" and is "gambling with World War Three".
Zelensky has travelled to Washington DC to discuss a critical minerals deal as Trump seeks to broker an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
The last 10 minutes of the nearly 45-minute meeting then devolved into a verbal spat between the leaders.
Zelensky was referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin breaching earlier agreements about attacking Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president told Trump that promises of peace from Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted.
US Vice-President JD Vance said: "What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That's what President Trump's doing."
Zelensky questioned that saying "Putin broke the ceasefire. What kind of diplomacy JD are you speaking about?"
Vance replied: "I think it's disrespectful to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media."
The pair repeatedly shouted over each other, with Trump telling the Ukrainian president that he was losing the war, adding, "people are dying, you're running low on soldiers."
Trump told Zelensky he was not in a very good position and Ukraine was in "big trouble".
"You've got to be more thankful," Trump told Zelensky, adding that the Ukrainian leader was "gambling with World War Three."
Trump told Zelensky he was not in a very good position and Ukraine was in "big trouble". Photo: SAUL LOEB
He threatened to withdraw US support in the stand-off in front of reporters ahead of a planned signing ceremony for a revenue-sharing minerals agreement.
"You're either going to make a deal, or we're out, and if we're out, you'll fight it out. I don't think it's going to be pretty," Trump said.
"You don't have the cards. Once we sign that deal, you're in a much better position. But you're not acting at all thankful, and that's not a nice thing. I'll be honest. That's not a nice thing."
Zelensky openly challenged the US president over his softer approach toward Putin, urging him to "make no compromises with a killer".
At the end of the meeting, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social and said Ukraine's president was "not ready for Peace if America is involved."
"I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don't want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace," Trump wrote said.
White House officials have confirmed Zelensky has left the White House early. A press conference scheduled for later in the day has been cancelled.
The Ukrainian leader was also due to meet with US politicians later on Saturday but it is unclear if those meetings will take place.
- ABC
